MMMBop: Hansen's back
Craig Hansen has started off the 2008 season in terrific style for the PawSox. Six innings, eight strikeouts, one hit. If that doesn’t make you say "MMMbop", I don’t know what would.
Yes, yes. Small sample size. But last year he had two big problems:
Severe sleep apnoea: He was waking many times a night and as a result was suffering fatigue and problems with focus. A 500-lb fat man, if you will (and who wouldn't). But off-season surgery in has corrected the problem
Release point: The probable reason his slider hasn’t as devastating as it was at St John’s. But looks like he’s found it again. Hello: I’m from the school of extrapolating wildly based on a handful of innings. Regardless, I’m back on the bandwagon.
I’m bravely predicting is that Hansen will make it to the Sox pen soon after the All-Star break, when he’ll become a solid 6/7 inning guy. All part of his renaissance in realising his potential as a dominant setup man.
Craig Hansen note: He was described as the most Major League-ready player in the 2005 draft class.
Bonus Craig Hansen note: He’s from Glen Cove, NY, where Hitchcock filmed bits of North by Northwest. The bits where James Mason and Martin Landau get Roger Thornhill liquored up and behind the wheel of a car, I believe. (And having looked it up, Glen Cove was also used for Annie Hall, Arthur and Batman Forever. We’ll forget about Batman Forever. Or try to, at any rate.)
Hanson note: If I saw the drummer, I’d probably bust him one on the snout. It would be a purely reflex action.
Bonus Hanson note: Their Wikipedia entry alleges that fans all over the world still celebrate Hanson Day on 6 May. Let’s just say I’m sceptical.
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8 comments
Comments
Man.
I hope you're right brit, and thank god the "hanson" tag has been started on OTM, but I tend to think that Hansen is just going to continue to tease us with this kind of stuff. Maybe/hopefully I'm wrong and you're right.
"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Julius Erving is a doctor?"
by Allen Chace on Apr 10, 2008 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm even more excited about Masterson, truth be told,
but everyone needs more Hanson in their lives.
Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.
by britsoxfan on Apr 10, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Personally I'm pretty excited about the Martin Landau tag.
His Bela Lugosi was fantastic.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Apr 10, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully this experience with Hansen will teach the Red Sox not to waste top draft picks on relievers. With Papelbon and Okajima in the pen, all we need is one good reliever (hopefully Delcarmen) and a few average ones (like Tavarez) to have a decent pen.
by 0157H7 on Apr 10, 2008 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting tidbit
It's not that Hansen found his release point, it's that he went back to his old college mechanics, or so I hear. The Red Sox were trying to alter his mechanics to be more ergonomic to extend his career and durability. Hansen's college mechanics, while very effective—especially where his slider is concerned—are tremendously stressful on his elbow.
TJ in 2 years?
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Apr 10, 2008 2:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hansen update after five games
7.1IP, 2H, 1R, 3BB, 8SO
Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.
by britsoxfan on Apr 15, 2008 5:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hard to find fault with that.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Apr 15, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yawn
Another two perfect innings tonight.
Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.
by britsoxfan on Apr 16, 2008 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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